77: Chapter 77 Sword Lake

Three figures walked side by side across the vast plains.

In the distance, the lake was like a mirror, reflecting the light of the sky and the shadows of the clouds, while dense forests wound along the lakeshore, their leaves a lush, dripping green.

Wei Yan's hair was tied in a high ponytail, her plain white sleeves billowing in the wind as her gaze swept across the distant lake surface.

A woman beside her raised a hand to point at the shimmering waves: "Senior Sister, we've arrived. Ahead is the Sword Lake!"

"Sword Lake..."

Su Xuanheng murmured softly, his face weary from the journey.

The three of them had fought their way through and finally reached their destination.

During their journey, Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan had visited the surroundings of the Wan Jian Sect. They had inadvertently found a Main lineage disciples of the Wan Jian Sect and learned from her that Wei Yan's Master was still alive but had already fled the Sect.

The Wan Jian Sect was currently still embroiled in a struggle for the position of Sect Master. Elders from various peaks were plotting against one another, and many Disciples were dying mysterious deaths, with undercurrents surging like a miniature imperial court fighting for the throne.

To survive, the Main lineage discipless could only flee the Sect.

Some chose to return to their hometowns, some traveled far and wide, and others waited for the Sect Master's return.

Zhao Wanyi was one of those Disciples waiting for the Sect Master's return. She had been hiding in a small town near the Wan Jian Sect and was so excited when she met Wei Yan that it was as if she had found her purpose in life.

Upon hearing Wei Yan say she was going to the Sword Lake, she chose to follow without hesitation.

Thus, the three of them arrived here together.

Looking from afar, one could clearly feel the thousands of types of Sword Intent contained within the lake, their edges sharp and fierce.

The Sword Intent within Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan began to stir restlessly.

Others came to the Sword Lake to sense the Sword Intent and comprehend the Moves hidden within it, but the two of them came to the Sword Lake to suppress and tame their Sword Intent.

The path of a normal Sword Cultivator is to comprehend one's own Sword Intent step by step, like a pet raised from birth; the Sword Cultivator must stimulate its ferocity and train its hunting abilities.

However, the Sword Intent of those with a Clear Sword Heart is like a wild animal—naturally fierce and possessing extreme hunting capabilities. Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan had to slowly tame it before it could be used for themselves.

The three of them looked up to see a market sprawling along the lakeshore, bustling with people and filled with a wall of noise.

"It's so lively. Are there really this many Sword Cultivators in the world?"

Su Xuanheng walked along the market streets, marveling at the bustling scene.

A Cultivator at a nearby stall overheard this and explained with a smile, "The three of you must have just arrived at the Sword Lake. Recently, the Sword Intent in the lake has been erupting frequently with great power. Some speculate that a Rare Treasure is about to emerge from the lake, which is why so many Cultivators have been drawn here."

There weren't actually that many Sword Cultivators in the world; most Cultivators simply used swords as their Magical Artifacts rather than being true Sword Cultivators.

"A Rare Treasure?" Wei Yan's brows knit slightly. "How is it that I've never heard of a Rare Treasure in the Sword Lake?"

As a Personal Disciple of the Wan Jian Sect, her knowledge was extensive, yet the books within the Sect had no record of a Rare Treasure hidden in the Sword Lake.

Where did this rumor of a Rare Treasure in the Sword Lake come from?

The Stall Cultivator smiled and made a gesture with his hand.

Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan didn't understand.

Zhao Wanyi, however, understood social graces better than the two of them and immediately picked a bottle of Medicinal Pills from the stall.

"That will be three Spirit Stones, thank you," the Stall Cultivator chuckled.

Zhao Wanyi huffed and haggled with him, finally closing the deal for one Spirit Stone.

Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan watched on, completely baffled.

Weren't they just chatting? Why did she suddenly start buying street goods?

It wasn't until the Stall Cultivator tucked away the Spirit Stone that he continued with a smile, "There is indeed a Rare Treasure in the lake, though the exact type cannot be confirmed. This news came from a great expert a thousand years ago, so it cannot be false."

"Just because a great expert said it doesn't mean it's true, right? What if they were just teasing us ordinary Cultivators?"

Wei Yan asked back with a smile.

The Stall Cultivator wasn't offended and also smiled. "When a great expert says something, later generations of Cultivators will naturally observe and verify it. According to even older ancient records, the Sword Lake was initially just an ordinary lake, but somehow it suddenly transformed into the current Sword Lake."

"Therefore, there is a very high possibility that a Rare Treasure is hidden within the Sword Lake. It was the Rare Treasure that transformed the lake into the Sword Lake!"

"Of course, it might not be a Rare Treasure but a Secret Realm, or perhaps some ancient expert is in seclusion within the lake; it's hard to say."

"Recently, the movements in the Sword Lake have been abnormal, signs never seen in a thousand years. So, everyone believes that the thing within the Sword Lake is about to emerge!"

The information provided by the Stall Cultivator had some reference value. It was unexpected that the rumors of a Rare Treasure could be traced back a thousand years.

No wonder it wasn't found in the books; the time gap was too large.

That the Sword Lake could draw so many Cultivators showed that the rumors held some degree of credibility.

"Senior Sister, do you think a Rare Treasure really will emerge?" Zhao Wanyi asked curiously.

"Who knows. We came to the Sword Lake to Cultivate. Whether it's true or false doesn't affect our sword practice."

Wei Yan didn't care about the rumors of a Rare Treasure; both she and Su Xuanheng were solely focused on becoming stronger.

Zhao Wanyi shrugged helplessly; her Senior Sister was the same as ever, with nothing but swords on her mind.

She wanted to gossip with Su Xuanheng about the Rare Treasure, but when she turned to look, Su Xuanheng was staring intensely at the Sword Lake, his gaze identical to her Senior Sister's.

Fine then...

Another pure Sword Cultivator.

People like this probably won't get married in this lifetime, right?

The three of them arrived at the edge of the Sword Lake. The true Sword Cultivators were currently meditating or practicing their swordsmanship by the shore, quietly sensing the Sword Intent in the lake, forming a sharp contrast with the noisy market.

The three of them found a random empty spot and threw themselves into their Cultivation.

The Sword Lake radiated countless strands of Sword Intent interwoven together, evolving into endless sword Moves.

If a Sword Cultivator sitting by the lake had an epiphany, they could capture the Moves evolved from these Sword Intents.

Su Xuanheng was completely immersed in his comprehension of the Sword Intent, losing track of time.

It wasn't until a terrifying Sword Intent suddenly erupted from the Sword Lake that he was jolted awake from his comprehension.

Countless Sword Intents within the Sword Lake erupted suddenly, like billions of invisible sharp swords unsheathing at once, their sharp sword light forming visible ripples of energy.

"What's going on?!"

"An abnormal movement has erupted in the Sword Lake. Could it be that a Rare Treasure really is about to emerge?"

The Cultivators by the lakeshore were all shocked by this violent Sword Intent, their Divine Souls trembling and their blood and Qi churning. They retreated in disarray, their faces filled with horror.

Su Xuanheng and the others were also forced back, only managing to steady themselves after retreating dozens of yards.

The Sword Intent within Su Xuanheng's body resonated violently; if not for his forceful suppression, it would have almost burst out of him.

Wei Yan was equally uncomfortable and still shaken.

The lake surface, which had been as smooth as a mirror, suddenly began to churn violently without warning, kicking up surging waves!

Under the gaze of countless horrified eyes, a pagoda emanating an ancient and vast aura broke through the lake surface, rising from the center of a whirlpool!

The pagoda stood tall and majestic, its body a deep color like black iron that had weathered ten thousand years, yet it faintly gave off a restrained sharpness.

The walls of the pagoda were covered in crisscrossing sword marks. Each mark seemed to be engraved with time and endless slaughter, emitting a terrifying Sword Intent that could suppress the universe as they intertwined with one another!

"Could it be..."

Wei Yan's pupils shrank, and she said in a trembling voice, "The source of the Sword Intent... is this pagoda!?"